ALVA, Oklahoma – The 18th-ranked Ouachita Baptist University football team moved to 2-0 to start the 2024 season following a 56-2 road victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday night.
Despite a mistake-plagued first half with penalties, turnovers, and a safety going the way of the Rangers (0-2), the Tigers (2-0) made the necessary adjustments at halftime and exploded for 21 points in the third quarter with another 14 coming in the final frame to seal the comfortable win.
Article by obutigers.com
The Tiger defense, which kept the opponent out of the endzone for the second straight game to start the year, forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive. The Ouachita offense came out and scored four plays later on a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass from Eli Livingston to Connor Flannigan.
The mistakes followed from there with a fumble on a punt return following another defensive stop and another fumble on the following Ouachita offensive drive.
After the defense forced two more NWOSU punts, the Tigers scored at the end of the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Livingston to Garrison Jackson to take a 14-0 lead into the second frame.
The only NWOSU score came on a unique play with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Ranger quarterback Beck Moss was picked off by Ouachita’s Gabe Bonner going inside the NWOSU redzone. Bonner’s momentum carried him into the endzone, and after attempting to get out, he was tackled for a Ranger safety.
A missed field goal and an interception thrown by the Tigers kept the Rangers in the game. The Tigers put together a scoring drive late in the second quarter capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Livingston to AJ Jones with 1:01 remaining before halftime. That gave the Tigers a 21-2 lead at the break.
The defense continued its stifling play in the second half, while the offense played nearly mistake-free to get the blowout victory.
Carter McElhany ignited the second-half rout with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the third quarter. It was the first 100-yard kickoff return for the Tigers in the GAC era. He also hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
Other second-half scores included a five-yard touchdown run by Kendel Givens, which was his 60th career rushing score, to go along with an 11-yard touchdown run by Chris Henley, Jr., and an 11-yard touchdown run by freshman Jayden Smith.
Ouachita ended up with a 535-134 edge in total offense. The Tigers out-rushed the Rangers 267-62 and won the passing battle 268-72.
Livingston finished the night 9-for-17 through the air for 171 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He scattered his passes around to seven different receivers.
Givens carried 18 times for 145 rushing yards and one touchdown. It was his first 100-yard game this season and 13th of his Ouachita career.
Defensively, reigning GAC defensive player of the week Mikey Gonzalez made a case to repeat that honor with six tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks for combined loss of 18 yards. Jabarii Pharms added five tackles and one sack in his Ouachita debut.
The Tigers head back to Arkansas, but remain on the road next week, traveling to Magnolia on Saturday, September 21 for a 6 p.m. matchup against the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.
